New York, Broome County candidates roll out messages on video

Challengers struggle to keep up with incumbents' ads

Oct. 9, 2012

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Reports filed with the state Board of Elections last week show incumbent candidates for major state and local offices have begun to pump tens of thousands of dollars into television advertising, while their cash-strapped challengers are looking for other ways to brand themselves ahead of the Nov. 6 general election.

Some incumbents are using video clips to campaign on their records: Republican Broome County Executive Debbie Preston says she is “just getting started.” An ad for Democratic Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo says she is “a trusted leader.” Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, wants his constituents to know that “actions speak louder.”

Some of their challengers are taking a different approach.

Among the more unorthodox efforts is an 80-second video that shows John Orzel wearing a mud-stained business suit as he trawls through murky waters with a fishing net. The Democrat, who is making his second bid to unseat Libous, says in the video that he’s “muckraking” through his opponent’s record.

“(I found) a lot of actions and a lot of words,” Orzel says. “But the words just don’t line up with the actions.”

Orzel said the unconventional approach of the video, which has not yet been released on TV, is partly an attempt to keep his message from being drowned out by Libous’ campaign war chest, which is nearly 100 times the size of his.

“You’ve got to grab people’s attention any way you can,” Orzel said. “I’m climbing a mountain. I know that.”

During the 80-day campaign finance reporting period that ended last week, Orzel’s campaign fund spent $3,373 — $650 of it to make the video — and took in $11,342, ending with a balance of $7,969.

During that same period, Libous’ campaign fund spent $237,967, took in $169,539 and ended with a balance of $694,610. Nearly half the spending — a total of $101,501 — paid for production and placement of three crisply-produced television ads that promote his legislative accomplishments, job-creation efforts and social initiatives.

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“We’re running a very positive campaign and we’re talking about my successful relationship with Gov. Cuomo and moving the state forward on the right track,” Libous said. “We say ‘actions speak louder’, and I stand behind my slogan.”

As for Orzel’s video, Libous said it doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously.

“He offers no vision for this community, he offers no solution to any of the area’s concerns or problems,” Libous said, “and certainly someone who thinks he’s that cute or clever is not going to get the cooperation of Gov. Cuomo or too many people in the legislature.”

While the financial difference between the Libous and Orzel campaigns is stark, such fundraising disparities are hardly uncommon, according to Adam Skaggs, senior counsel at New York University School of Law’s Brennan Center for Justice.

Incumbents benefit from the fact that New York has “about the highest campaign contribution limits of any state that bothers to have any limits at all,” he said.

Records show the largest single contribution to Orzel’s campaign fund since mid-July was $300 from the candidate himself. Libous’ campaign fund received three contributions of the maximum $5,000.

“The fact is that incumbents, because of this advantage, frequently hold an enormous advantage in terms of raising campaign funds, as opposed to challengers,” Skaggs said. “The result is that we, in many cases, don’t have any effective competition.”

Libous defended the current system, saying it is fair to both parties and is favorable to public campaign financing proposals, which would use taxpayer money to match private campaign contributions.

“It’s the American political system. It works for both parties, Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “There’s no special consideration to any party as far as an incumbent raising money.”

State Assembly

The incumbency advantage is falling in Lupardo’s favor in the state Assembly race, where she faces a challenge from Broome County Legislator Julie Lewis.

Lupardo’s campaign fund began the reporting period with $100,022, took in $31,055, spent $21,368 and ended with a balance of $109,709.

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Most of Lupardo campaign’s spending over that period, a total of $10,912, went to production and air time for TV ads. Two 30-second spots have been released so far.

“It’s all, basically on the same track: a trusted leader focused on community needs, focused on innovation,” Lupardo said.

Lewis said she’s not sure if her campaign will be running television advertising. Her campaign fund started the reporting period without any money, and ended with $2,334 after taking in $21,947 and spending $19,613.

“Being the non-incumbent for a race this big, it’s pretty challenging,” Lewis said. “We might try some radio or mail...and I’ve been doing a lot of door-to-door. That’s the cheapest.”

Broome County Executive

Although not as pronounced, the incumbent also has an advantage in the race for Broome County’s highest office.

Preston’s campaign spent $35,603 over a nine-day reporting period that ended Oct. 1. Of that, $34,016 was used for two television ads that tout employment initiatives and cost-cutting measures.

“The TV ads are really important to get our message out to the voters and talk about Debbie’s accomplishments: creating jobs and delivering a zero percent tax increase,” said Preston campaign manager Bijoy Datta. “We really wanted the people to know about her solid record.”

Preston’s campaign took in $6,290 over the reporting period and ended with a balance of $27,353.

Democratic challenger Tarik Abdelazim’s campaign took in $6,265, spent $3,855 and ended with a $33,564 balance.

Abdelazim’s campaign released two videos of its own, although both are confined to YouTube. Campaign manager Dara Silberstein said others will be created to be broadcast on TV.

One shows Abdelazim in front of the county-owned Willow Point Nursing Home in Vestal, promising not to privatize the facility.

The campaign took a more lighthearted approach with “Hard to Pronounce, Easy to Vote For,” a 50-second animated video created by a supporter regarding the proper spelling and pronunciation of Abdelazim’s first and last name. Characters mispronounce ‘hors d’oeuvres’ and ‘quesedillia’ before mangling the name of their favored candidate, with one endorsing “Turnip Abracadabra.”

“We’re in the process of looking at the TV ad buys and how we want to focus them and what the message should be,” Silberstein said. “We want to focus on the truth and how we’re going to move forward.”